SBP to bring Blatche case to Olympic body

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has elevated the “Andray Blatche case” all the way to the office of the Olympic Council of Asia chief in one final effort to salvage Blatche’s entry in the Asian Games before finally considering withdrawal of Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the Incheon meet.

The Philippine cage federation appealed the matter to OCA president Sheik Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah in a letter wired to the OCA office in Kuwait shortly after midnight Monday.

“We’re doing this without surrender. We’re trying one last time. Whether we get slapped on the face is not important for us. What’s important is we’re going all out for one last time,” SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas told The STAR.

The SBP elevated the matter to the OCA chief after months of trying and failing to get the nod of the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee and the OCA Asian Games Department.

“We earnestly seek the help and support and understanding of your good selves, and allow Mr. Blatche – and our national team – to join the brotherhood of basketball in the Asian Games,” said the SBP letter to the OCA chief.

“We have exerted our best efforts to persuade OCA about this ‘misunderstanding’ of the eligibility rules for more than two months. It is our sincere hope that this ‘misunderstanding’ would not lead the SBP to consider any alternative other than to participate, considering that the Games are due to start in less than two weeks,” the SBP letter also stated.

Furnished a copy of the letter were FIBA secretary general Patrick Bauhmann, Haider Farman of the OCA Asian Games Department, and OCA director general Husain Al-Musallan.

Vargas said they expect to hear from OCA during the Asiad delegation heads meeting to be attended by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia in his capacity as chef de mission of the Phl contingent to the Incheon Games.

The SBP is sending along SBP consultant Mauricio “Moying” Martelino, longtime secretary general of the Asian Basketball Confederation (now known as FIBA Asia).

“We want to stay positive but it’s hard. We don’t know the politics there,” said Vargas.

He added that they also don’t know how they would be able to sound out their final appeal on the Blatche case in the Incheon meeting.

“What we know is that OCA knows that we’ll be there for a purpose. Yung diskarte iniwan na namin (in the hands of Cojuangco, Garcia and Martelino),” said Vargas.

“I understand they will try to arrange a private meeting,” Vargas added.

Vargas said they would look at their other options after they hear the final word from OCA.

“There’s nothing specific in our letter,” said Vargas on whether they would turn their back on the Asian Games right away if OCA doesn’t clear Blatche.

In such case, Vargas said they might first appeal Marcus Douthit’s takeover of Blatche’s spot.

If both Blatche and Douthit are barred from the games, then the SBP would most probably would be forced to withdraw Gilas Pilipinas from the Incheon Games.

The Philippines previously missed participation in Asiad basketball event in Doha, Qatar in 2006 during the country’s suspension in the FIBA rolls.